Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Steelers Go is an empty backfield five wide route concept out of Shotgun Empty Steeler with 11 personnel. On the right side the outside receiver runs a vertical go route (shown in red as the primary or user read), while the inside two receivers run a shallow drag combo that crosses the field to the left underneath. The left side outside receiver runs a deep corner breaking route off a vertical stem, with the inside slot running a matching shallow drag underneath to the left sideline. This is a man beater built to isolate the deep go route on a cornerback while giving underneath drag/crossers as an outlet against blitz or trailing coverage, with the primary read starting on the go route and progressing to the shallow crossers if the deep shot is not there.
Defensive Reads
Key the safety depth before the snap, a single high safety cheating to the go route side signals man coverage underneath with help over the top. Watch the corner's alignment on the go route receiver, outside leverage invites a quick out or back shoulder throw while inside leverage means the corner is banking on safety help. Post snap, track any user controlled defender dropping into a lurk spot on the shallow drags since that is the main counter to the underneath crossers. Cover 2 and cover 4 shells with two deep safeties are the best answer to this play since they take away the go route and force checkdowns. Watch linebacker drop speed on the crossers, a delayed blitz or spy can jump the shallow drag route if the quarterback locks onto it too early.
Usage Tips
Take a pre-snap look at the corner over your go route receiver before the snap to confirm single high or man leverage.
If the corner shows inside shade or press man, throw the go route with a back shoulder placement or lead him deep before the safety can rotate over.
Against zone shells with two deep safeties, abandon the go route and work the shallow drags underneath since the vertical route will be capped by the safety.
Use hot routes to convert the far side drag into a deeper dig if you are seeing a lot of cover 3 sink from the linebackers.
Pair this play with Steelers Cross or Y-Stick in the same set so the defense has to respect both the vertical shot and the quick underneath game from the same empty look.
